What is the most important thing (s) to you when it comes to mixing?

[jujumies]

Hi,

I know this is a question that may not have a single answer, but I wanted to know things (elements) that are important for people who are mixing. Things that many times are keys to a successful mix. So basically what do you need to get sorted out in order to build up a mix?

For me in 90% of cases it is the drums and bass. I need to get the drums and bass to sound right. After that its usually just having fun.

Simo Orpana
Studio Bad Mama
Studio Bad Mama

[Mixbuster]

Hi.
There are many ways to look at a mix. Personally I try to adapt myself to the music/genre & band I'm mixing.
I look at mixing as a kind of art. I use automation quite much on bigger projects, to colour the mix with different elements at different places in the song.

Personally I spend most the time at the recording stage, trying to make the instruments sound as close to the mix I hear in my head. So when I start to mix I already have the sounds I want. Just volume matching, and maybe a touch of compression and eq.

On the other hand I use the "foundation of a house" trick. Where the bass and drum are the foundation, after that you just continue to build upwards until you're done.
So to answer your question I generally start with the drums. Make them sound as I want, adding some reverb to the snare, and toms, drums generally (really depends on what music genre I'm doing!). Then I move over to the bass. Make it fall in love with the drums, so they are as one.

Then I raise the guitars into the mix, if some of the drums starts to "fade out" or "disappears" I spend some time on retracking (only if I have a DI track recorded). If I don't have a DI track, I just tweak the EQ and add compression to make it sound good. Not to much eq, as it will start to sound a little fake.

After the guitars I take whatever that is left. Usually it's the vocals.
There you go! A short answer of how I approach my mixes.
Have fun, that's the key! thumbsup

[Mixbuster]

Originally Posted by moracspace

Hi pass everything but kick drum

This really depends on the music genre.
But there is no answer, if it works for you, by all means go for it!

[Mixbuster]

Originally Posted by moracspace

Actually works for every genre
its about making space for all the instuments

True.. But in the metalcore genre it usually works to let the bass have the low end, and hipass the kick at about 90 - 100 hz

[Adib]

Originally Posted by moracspace

Actually works for every genre

What????? Dnb, Dubstep, UK Grime and any hip hop (or other genre) with a sub bass generally has the kick high passed to make room for the bass....

Originally Posted by moracspace

its about making space for all the instuments

very true

[ed97643]

Most important thing (to me) #1:
Compare (a/b) your mix against a stylistically similar mix that you respect.

Most important thing (to me) #2:
Take a break. Refresh your ears from time to time. Come back to it fresh.

[RCM - Ronan]

For me the most important part is trying to figure out what will carry the emotion of the song or get people engaged in it. This seems to change a lot even withing the same genre. Sometimes creating giant drums is what makes a song powerful, other times is making the drums tiny and letting the vocals or guitars/keys shine.

[Piranhadrum]

I just try to make the music sound as realistic as possible.

[robot gigante]

Vocals, vocals, vocals.

[badboymusic]

Originally Posted by rcm

For me the most important part is trying to figure out what will carry the emotion of the song or get people engaged in it. This seems to change a lot even withing the same genre. Sometimes creating giant drums is what makes a song powerful, other times is making the drums tiny and letting the vocals or guitars/keys shine.

Words of wisdom, Lloyd, my man. Words of wisdom.

[Teddy Ray]

for me it is realism....

I am probably in the minority with that statement, but the music I record

(Singer Songwriter, Folk, Bluegrass, Acoustic, used to do a lot of classical)

requires it.

[Makinithappen]

Cool delays!!!

Tight rythem section!!!!

Harmonies!!!!

[Makinithappen]

Originally Posted by Teddy Ray

for me it is realism....

I am probably in the minority with that statement, but the music I record

(Singer Songwriter, Folk, Bluegrass, Acoustic, used to do a lot of classical)

requires it.

I'm envious of the type of work you do... realisim sounds like a lot more fun. I guess a lot of what I do would be "fakeism"

[backindauk]

It's important for the vocal to sound crisp. Don't let it get muddied in the mix!

[AnAverageJoe]

What is crisp?

[bcgood]

Originally Posted by robot gigante

Vocals, vocals, vocals.

Yep, it really is all about the vocals. This is really hard to teach many FOH guys by the way, trust me I've tried...

[weezul]

intonation, and bloody distorted guitars!

[nick-the-sax]

Originally Posted by AnAverageJoe

What is crisp?

bed sheets after having accomplished your first good mix.

[picksail]

An amazing song!

The rest is easy.

[warhead]

I'm amazed after finally working very hard to get my small but functional control room together, what proper room treatment does as far as being able to get sounds together quickly while tracking and mixing. Like most here I end up mixing what I've tracked, and building the song right is essential so you are not fighting everything.

So I guess I say first, start with a great room that translates for you.

War

[Karloff70]

Confidence

[dkelley]

not listening to music for a little while before starting.

[John Eppstein]

For me it would be not being bothered by extraneous nonsense such as multiple screens, nested menus, unintuitive interfaces and a lack of physical knobs under my hands.

[tysonviolin]

Originally Posted by bcgood

Yep, it really is all about the vocals. This is really hard to teach many FOH guys by the way, trust me I've tried...

you mean FOH amateurs right?

[u b k]

Originally Posted by tysonviolin

you mean FOH amateurs right?

only if amateurs are running the big shows, because almost every concert I've been to in the last 5 years has louder kick drum and guitars than lead vocals.

that's where almost every foh guy seems to start soundcheck with: kick drum. good idea for getting headroom and gainstaging sorted, bad idea for building a live mix.


Gregory Scott - ubk
.

[suedesound]

Really?

I do FOH at a fairly small club and I aproach it in a similar way to mixing in the studio, vox, drums, bass in order of importance, whatever else is there after. I've actually been suprised at how low I can keep gtrs in a live mix and still have it sound powerful if those first three are working.

[MarkRB]

Setting a balance where the song feels right, then making sure I know where the focus of each section should be before I get all twisty with any knobs.

[Preme Diesel]

vocals, kick/snare, bass

in that order

[ZEBRAAA]

i record people, not instruments. i ask musicians little important things....what reflect in their life. then i mix the band or artist as i understand them.

try to listen to their language and soul. for me music is a better conversation, then talking.

blend it....make it better. and if there is something i dont like, that is a standard mix.

greetz peter

[Andreas G]

Hunting for the emtional, touching moments and emphasize them.